Frequently Asked Questions in Introductory Japanese

There are some significant challenges for English speakers learning Japanese, including the entirely different alphabet, the difference in how words are stressed when spoken, and the different conjugations of common verbs. 

For those moving on from Japanese 101, there are still many questions about word usage and meanings of common and less-than-common words. In order to become more proficient in writing, speaking, and reading Japanese, here are some frequently asked questions about various words and their proper usage. 

What Does "Nante" Mean?

Nante （なんて） can be used in the following situations.

To express an exclamation beginning with "how" or "what."

Nanto （なんと） can be replaced with nante in the above cases.

To mean "such things" or "and so on" in a sentence structure. 

Nado （など）can be replaced with nante in the above cases.

How is the Word "Chotto" Used?

Chotto （ちょっと） can be used in several different situations.

It can mean a little, a bit, or a small amount.

It can mean "a moment" or an indeterminate amount of time.

It can also be used as an exclamation to convey urgency.
 

Chotto! wasuremono! (informal) -> Hey! You left behind this.
ちょっと。 忘れ物。

Chotto is also a kind of linguistic softener, equivalent to one of the uses of the word "just" in English.

And finally chotto may be used to avoid direct criticism in a reply. 

Kono kutsu dou omou.
Un, chotto ne ...

この靴どう思う。
うん、ちょっとね ...

What do you think about these shoes?
Hmm, it's a little ...

In this case chotto is said quite slowly with a falling intonation. This is a very convenient expression as it is used when people want to turn someone down or negate something without being direct or unkind.

What is the Difference Between "Goro" and "Gurai"?

A. Both goro （ごろ) and gurai （ぐらい）are used to express approximation. However, goro is only used for a specific point in time to mean approximately.

Gurai （ぐらい） is used for an approximate time period or quantity.

Gurai can be replaced with hodo ほど） or yaku （約 though yaku comes before the quantity. Examples:

What is the Difference Between "Kara" and "Node"?

The conjunctions kara （から） and node （ので）both express reason or cause. While kara is used for reason or cause of a speaker's volition, opinion and so on, node is for existing (existed) action or situation.

Sentences expressing personal judgment such as speculation, suggestion, intention, request, opinion, volition, invitation, and so forth would use kara.

While kara focuses more on the reason, node focuses more on the resulting effect. This is why the kara clause is used independently more often than node.

Doushite okureta no.
Densha ni nori okureta kara.

どうして遅れたの。
電車に乗り遅れたから。

Why were you late?
Because I missed the train.

Kara can be immediately followed by "desu （～です).

What is the Difference Between "Ji" and "Zu"?

Both hiragana and katakana have two ways of writing ji and zu. Although their sounds are same in either writing, じ and ず are used most of the time. In a few rare cases they are written ぢ and づ.

In a compound word, the second part of the word often changes the sound. If the second part of word begins with "chi （ち）" or "tsu （つ）," and it changes the sound to ji or zu, it is written ぢ or づ.
 

When ji follows chi, or zu follows tsu in a word, it is written ぢ or づ.
 

What is the Difference Between "Masu" and "te imasu"?

The suffix "masu （～ます）" is the present tense of a verb. It is used in formal situations.

When "imasu （～います）" follows the "te form" of a verb, it describes progressive, habitual or a condition. 

Progressive indicates that an action is ongoing. It is translated as the "ing" of English verbs. 

Habitual indicates repeated actions or constant states. 

In these instances it describes a condition, situation or the result of an action.